Bullet Choice, 6X45

[SmokinJoe]

I have 4 different bullets available to use in my 6X45 for whitetail deer: 90 Nos BT, 85 Sie HPBT, 80 Barnes TTSX and 85 Sie Pro Hunter SP. From your experiences which would you choose?

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have used the 85 Sierra HPBT, it works fine. I shot a deer running away up the side of a ridge at 200 yds with a Pro Hunter right on the spine between the shoulders. It went down flipping around, finally stay still with its head up, shot it in the neck and killed it. The first shot the Pro Hunter hit the end of a vertebrate and blew apart into tiny pieces of lead and copper. It did not penetrate or break the spine. No more of them for me. I have not used the other 2. Good luck Joe.

 

[deadidarren]

I 2nd the 85 HPBT have used them on fallow deer great pill for slow rounds like the 6x45.

 

[5spd]

3rd on the Sierra 85 bthp.
Then the 80g.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I would use any of them but the Barnes. The reliable opening speed of that bullet is too high for that cartridge in my opinion.

 

[snert]

I think the Barnes will work fine as long as the distance isn't too far

 

[SmokinJoe]

Thanks for the replies. FWIW I have used the 90BT for the past couple years with good success. Before that I used the 85 Sie HPBT also with good success but went to the 90BT for just a little more whack. I had 100 cases to reload so loaded 50 with the 90BT and the other 50 with Sie 85HPBT. I'll just shoot a few along for practice and decide which seems most consistent. I'm blessed that these loads in my rifle shoot to the same POI at 100 so I don't have to reset the scope to go back and forth.

 

[Roe]

Shot 25-30 small deer with the Sierra 85gr HPBT. Wrote Sierra's technicians back in the day, explained my application (6x45 rifle 20" barrel) and that was the recommended bullet.
Hornady 87gr Vmax will also work nice at those velocities.

It's a lovely little cartridge, good luck!